Five Years After ‘Avengers: Endgame’ – The State of the MCU
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Annlyel James 
If you thought the MCU was famous, the X-Men and The Fantastic Four are about to make this franchise the best it’s ever been.
It’s time to take a retrospective look at the current state of the MCU. There’s the saying that “time flies,” but that saying becomes all the more apparent when I look back at some of my favorite movies and realize how time has sped by. Interstellar, for example, is having its tenth anniversary this year, and yet it feels like I watched it for the first time yesterday. The same can be said for Avengers: Endgame. Five years ago, it was the movie event of the century. After their shocking defeat in Avengers: Infinity War, people worldwide were eagerly anticipating how the Avengers would bounce back. This led to the film becoming the first to earn a billion dollars in its opening weekend. For many, it seemed like the perfect finale for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But Kevin Feige knew that when one saga ends, another begins.
THE MULTIVERSE SAGA
Now we’re five years into the Multiverse Saga, a sprawling slate of 23 movies and series that have received praise, disdain, and everything else in between. For some, the MCU’s phases 4 and 5 have been a downward spiral of quality—one with a few highlights sprinkled throughout the Multiverse Saga now and then. I have thoroughly enjoyed following this journey since WandaVision came out in 2021. Not all phases 4 and 5 have been perfect (I’m talking about you, Quantumania, and Secret Invasion). But for the most part, these stories have impressed me and kept me highly invested. And diversity has been the shining standout throughout these last two phases. Being a fan of this franchise has been a real treat, as so many people have had the chance to be represented in these stories, both in front of and behind the camera.
What’s even more exciting, however, is that we’re finally getting some of this franchise’s most significant, iconic superheroes to the forefront: the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. I have been waiting for this moment, and I have not been disappointed so far. Seeing Patrick Stewart return for a cameo role in Multiverse of Madness was something that I never thought I would get a chance to see. Then, having Beast appear in the post-credit scene in The Marvels blew me away. And just when I couldn’t get any more excited, X-Men ’97 was one of the most fun times for me to be a Marvel fan.
X-MEN ’97
X-Men ’97 has reinvigorated my love for the X-Men and confirmed that the X-Men, under Marvel Studios’ direction, will be in great hands. If you thought Marvel Studios was famous, the X-Men and The Fantastic Four are about to make this franchise the best it’s ever been. So, where do I think the state of the MCU is five years after Endgame? I think it’s in a place of boundless possibilities.
We’re on the verge of some of the most entertaining superhero movies in the past decade, with Deadpool and Wolverine coming out this year and Captain America: Brave New World, The Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts arriving in 2025. And let’s not forget that we’ll be getting Agatha’s series very soon, which will be a fun ride. Leaked images suggest Daredevil: Born Again could be the season four we always wanted.
Marvel Studios has brought me joy since I saw Iron Man in 2008. Now, sixteen years later, with X-Men ’97 becoming one of the best-animated series I’ve ever seen, I’m even more excited to be a fan of this franchise.
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Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
